Oil-tank.



B. F. BRADLEY.

OIL TANK.

APPLICATION FILED NOVI. I4. I9I4.

Patented June 27, '1916.

B-Z7Bradley,

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BRADLEY, OF PORT NECHES, TEXAS.

OIL-TANK.

speciacation of Letters raient. Patented June 27, 1916 Application ledNovember 14, 1914. Serial No. 872,217.

,To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. BRAD- LEY,'a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Port Neches, in the county of Jefferson and State ofTexas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oil-Tanks, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to oil tanks, and particularly to oil tank topsand means for mounting the same, whereby in the event of an explosion ofthe gases or vapors the tank top will be elevated to permit the gas ltions.

to escape and will then'drop back and close the tank and smother theflames, to prevent a conlagrat-ion and the destruction of the oil orother infiammable substance stored in the tank.

The object of the invention' is to provide a tank which embodies simpleand effective means for performing the above stated func The inventionconsists of the features of construction, combinationand arrangementY"of parts herein fully described and claimed,

reference being had to the accompanying drawing in wh1ch:-

Figure 1 is a` side elevation of an oil tank constructed in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the upperportion of the tank and the tank top. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionthrough one of the posts or standards for supporting the tank top. Fig.4 is a View in elevation of one of said posts, with parts broken away. A

Referrin to the drawing, l designates the body o the tank, whichlmay beof any suitable form and construction, and 2 designates the movable topof the tank, which may be of any suitable or preferred form,

general design and construction. As indicated in the present instance,the tank and top are provided with flanges or opposed surfaces 3 and 4between which is placed a packing 5, of asbestos rope or other suit--able material, whereby undue evaporation` of the contents of the tankis prevented and the entrance of d ust and other foreign particlesobviated. This packing 5 is lashed or otherwise secured to the ange 3,so as to prevent its displacement in case of an exi plosion.

In accordance with my invention, I pro- A vide means for yieldinglysupporting the top4 2, permitting it to have a desired elevanng or`.ouenl,ng-motion.. and adapting yit to drop back vwith a cushionedaction to seal the tank after the opening action. The means designed forthis purpose consists of posts or standards 6, each of which comprises ahollow body, tube or cylinder- 7 composed of a suitable anchoring base 8andone or more tube sections, two being shown in the present instance,the said two sections 9 and 10 being provided with anged couplingmembers 11 united by bolts 12, andy between which coupling members isinterposed a partition or abutment plate 13 through which the bolts alsopass. Each post is secured at its lower end by the base 8 to the flooror foundation on which the tank rests'an'd is fastened to the topporably mounted in the 'section 7 vof the postl body and provided at itsupper end with a head 17 orcoupling member 17. The heads or couplingmembers 17 of all of the plungers 'of the hollow posts employed, whichmay extend completely around or arranged in groups or series about thetank, are connected at their upper ends by a union bar or strip 18,whereby all or any number of the plunger members are united for movementin unison to exactly the same degree. Disposed within each hollow postbody is a coiled cushioning spring 19 which is interposed between thepartition or abutment plate 13 and the head 16 of the plunger, asclearly sho-wn in Fig. 3. y

As shown, the post sections are adjustably connected as by threadedengagement, with the coupling members 11 and the tubes 7 are in likemanner adjustably connected with i the bases 8, allowing the post to bevaried in length within certain limits so that their ioo heads 17 may bebrought to occupy a common level or not as occasion may require in Itheconstruction and operation of the parts.

combined strength of the several springs 19- is suliicient to supportthe Weight of the top 2when said springsl are compressed andthe top isseated upon the packin the top 2 thus being allowed to close fully Whileits Weight upon the packing is practically nil, so that in case of anexplosion of the gases or vapors contained Within the tank it will atonce be elevated to an open position, allowing the vapors and the forceof the eX- plosion to escape, thereby avoiding any possibility ofdisruption of the tank. As soon as the force of the explosion isexpended, the top 2 Will drop back to its normal position and againclose or seal the tank and smother any fire which may be caused as aresult of the explosion, thus extinguishing the tire and preventingdestruction of the oil or other inflammable substances stored in thetank. The plungers 15 being connected with the top 2 and movable freelyin the tubular posts, rise easily with the top EZ, the springs 19expanding and maintaining abutting contact with the heads 16, so thatupon the dropping of the top 2 back to normal position a cushioningaction will be instituted, thus preventing possibility of injury eitherto the tank body or tank top. The means employed for connecting theunion member or members 18 with the tank top may be of any preferredconstruction, and said union members may form a part of the tank top ifdesired. It will, of course, be understood that the post may be arrangedable conical cover for the top of the tank,

` said cover having upon its underside a horizontal flange disposed inparallel relation to the flange upon the tank, a packing element betweensaid flanges, horlzontal bars secured to the outer surface of the coverat opposite sides thereof and projecting bef vond the line of the wallof the tank, tubular posts supported upon the exterior of the tank belowthe respective bars, plungers secured tothe bars and movable ivithin theupper portions of the tubular posts, abutments within said posts, andsupporting and cushioning springs disposed in the posts between theabutments and plungers and operating to sustain. the cover so as todispose the horizontal flange thereof to rest easily upon said packing.In testimony whereof I affix my signature. in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BRADLEY. lVitnesses:

l F. CRAWFORD,

L. KonLnMAY.

